Cosmeston Community Farm WG enquiery responce

Dear Mr Hughes

Thank you for your email to the Minister for Climate Change regarding your proposal for

a community farm at Cosmeston. Your query has been passed to Land Division for

reply.

As a division, it is our priority to effectively, efficiently and sustainably manage our

assets to optimise public value outcomes. We always endeavour to consider how

assets will be used to achieve the greatest public value. While we examine all possible

long term opportunities it is good management practice to seek a meanwhile use hence

the recent Farm Business Tenancy offer.

We accepted our external agent’s recommendation and you may be reassured to know

that the land will be occupied by a local farmer for agricultural purposes for at least the

next two years.

The asset in question is held by Land Division as part of a wider portfolio originally

acquired for its longer term development potential. Whilst your application (and that

from Social Farms and Gardens) aligns with key government priorities, we are yet to

explore all possible uses for the holding so cannot proceed with your suggestion at

present.

The Welsh Government is encouraged by the number of applications received and I

would comment that potential community led proposals will be given due consideration

as part of the wider master planning.

Thank you for your interest, it would be premature to enter into a dialogue with a single

party at this time but should the land become surplus and available we have noted your

interest.

Yours sincerely,

RICHARD BAKER

Deputy Director, Land Division